PCH - The Platform Controller Hub H55 chipset

To facilitate the Clarkdale processors, Intel needed to come out with a new chipset, in fact they'll be released two of them each with their own derivative sidekicks. This is needed to run the integrated graphics via what's labeled as the Flexible Display Interface (FDI). Intel is offering two new chipsets to the market, H55 and H57/Q57. P55 actually should also work fine, yet obviously not with the embedded IGP. We will actually put this to the test today.

Now you might think the platform will be cheap and well, honestly it's average at best. Intel will charge its partners 40 to 44 USD per chip per 1K units. In a pale comparison, Intel charges 40 USD for a P55 chip to the motherboard manufacturers.

We received the ECS H55H-M motherboard and will pair it with a Core i5 661 dual core processor for a test run. Let's check out what this 196 USD processor will bring to the table. But first, let's have a look a some photos of the motherboard itself.